By Sidi Mohamed
DOHA: The Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with Qatar University’s College of Law, yesterday held a forum on ‘Human Rights and Social Justice’.
A highlight was the presence of officials from the United Nations Centre for Training and Documentation in Human Rights.
The forum was held at Criminal Investigation Department headquarters to mark the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Officials of the ministry, the National Committee for Human Rights, and students from the law college attended.
At the outset, Brigadier Abdullah Saqr Al Mohannadi, Director, Human Rights’ Department, said: “The event is an opportunity for employees of law-enforcement agencies, students and university professors to remember the principles and values of justice, equality, freedom and security included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.
Dr Yaseen Al Khalayla, Assistant Dean of the college, told the forum: “It is to support Qatar to help enhance human rights values and culture.”
Qatar’s enviable stature in the world today is not only due to its economic prowess but also its prominent role in promoting human rights, he added.
Qatar is signatory to many agreements related to human rights at regional and international levels.
Qatar has, for instance, banned companies that keep the passports of their low-income workers, which is illegal or make the employees work during noon time in the sizzling summer months from June 15 to August 31, he added.
The college puts emphasis on the law to help achieve human rights principles. Last year, it created a Master’s programme in public law, whose curriculum contains some courses in basic rights and freedom.
Alaa Qaoud, Deputy Director, UN Centre for Training and Documentation in the Human Rights, said: “The celebration of the Universal Declaration is to remember and underline the importance of human rights’ principles and see if a country is committed to the declaration.”
The Peninsula
